Hi Everyone,
I have been asked by a secondary school science teacher (who
teaches children aged 13-17 years) to help her put together some simple tasks
that she could use for students to complete a badge in sport science. The idea
is that you have a range of activities, and that students pick activities they
would like to do. Activities vary in difficulty and time required to complete,
and so each activity has a different score (indicated by stars, 1 star easy, 3
stars hard). Children need to accumulate 20 stars to get the sport science
badge.

I have thought of a few tasks but wondered whether some of you out there might
have some good ideas for this, or might already have something similar set-up.
(especially tasks involving biomechanics and sport psychology). Can you please
send me anything that you think might be suitable and I will put them together
and get Will to publish them on his sportsci website for others that may use
such things.

Possible Tasks
** Write a brief report on why cricket (or baseball) balls swing (or curve)
through the air when bowled (or pitched) in a certain manner.

***The energy to perform exercise or work is usually measured in calories or
kilocalories (kcal). For a variety of different sport activities, plot a graph
of their average energy requirements.

***Design, conduct and record an experiment that shows the relationship between
heart rate and exercise intensity.

*Write a short account in your own words on someone famous for his/her work in
sport science.

***Design, conduct and record an experiment that shows the relationship between
ventilation and exercise intensity.

***Design, conduct and record an experiment that shows the differences in sweat
rate between individuals.

**Give a three minute illustrated talk on differences in body composition in
athletes.

**Observe a team sport you are not used to. Look at one player in this sport and
record the total number of times he/she walks, jogs, runs and sprints during the
game. Summarise your findings in a chart.

**Construct, then use a questionnaire to find out why people play sport.
Summarise your findings in a chart.

***Explain the differences in muscle fibre types and which sports best suit
which fibre types.


Many thanks

Mike Hamlin, PhD
Acting Head of Department
Department of Social Science, Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport
Faculty of Environment, Society and Design
PO Box 84
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647
New Zealand